He announced that Meghan would be enthusiastically supporting Team Nigeria at this year's Invictus Games after discovering her Nigerian heritage. Prince Harry added a touch of humor to his speech, saying, "We're also very excited to have new nations join us; let's hear it for Colombia, Israel, and Nigeria.
Now, I'm not saying we play favorites in our home, but since my wife discovered that she's of Nigerian descent, it's likely to get a little bit more competitive this year." Meghan Markle's revelation about her Nigerian heritage had surfaced during an episode of her "Archetypes" podcast last October, where she disclosed that she is 43% Nigerian.
Prince Harry's reference to Meghan's Nigerian roots was part of a seven-minute speech welcoming the participants of the week-long sporting event. However, it turned out to be a somewhat embarrassing moment for him, as the audience did not respond with applause. Many in the audience appeared not to grasp the reference, and Harry's implication that Meghan supports Team Nigeria rather than Team USA seemed lost on them.
Regarding Meghan's claim of Nigerian ancestry, it's worth noting that some have raised doubts about the accuracy of her assertion. Given her mixed racial background, with a majority of white heritage and less than a quarter of African heritage, it seems unlikely that she is as much as 43% Nigerian. Critics argue that her claim may be opportunistic and geared towards rebranding herself as a woman of color, possibly for career-related reasons.
A recent poll conducted by Newsweek revealed that, at least among the surveyed individuals in the United States, Prince Harry is slightly more popular than Meghan Markle. The poll, conducted with 1,500 adults between September 3rd and 4th, found that 33% of respondents expressed a dislike for Meghan, while 31% reported a favorable opinion of her, resulting in a net approval rating of -2 for her. This marks a decline in her popularity compared to Newsweek's previous royal poll in June.
On the other hand, Prince Harry garnered a 39% approval rating, with 27% expressing a dislike for him, resulting in a net approval rating of 12. Notably, Meghan appears to be more popular among individuals aged 18 to 26, who gave her an overall rating of 19, while those aged 57 to 75, the Baby Boomer generation, expressed a -7 rating towards her.
